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Domestic violence survivor gives back: Carolina Has Heart

Hannah Herdlinger partners with domesticshelters.org which funds critical wish list items. Wherever the blankets are purchased or shipped, that's where the proceeds

Author: Sarah French

Published: 6:14 PM EDT October 10, 2019

Updated: 11:26 AM EDT October 11, 2019

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WCNC Charlotte is recognizing an incredible survivor who's dedicated her life to giving back.

When you see Hannah Herdlinger's smile, you'd never know what she's been through.

"I made it look like that perfect life, but what was going on behind closed doors was not so perfect," she said.

"One of my neighbors across the street from me said, 'I slowly started noticing your house going from light to dark,'" she added.

Herdlinger said she never wanted to consider herself a victim of domestic violence.

"Until Super Bowl Sunday 2014. And that was the worst night," she said.

Herdlinger said her life changed forever.

"He hit me really hard in the head multiple times; I blacked out," she said.

"My doctor said had the hit been slightly harder or to the right that I could've ended up in a coma and I could've also died," she added.

It was in this moment that Herdlinger knew she had to get out.

"I was working at the time for Facebook with Sheryl Sandberg, and I called and asked for some time off to recover as I began this process of divorce. And she not only gave me the time off that I requested, but she gave me the opportunity to move out to California to work at Facebook headquarters with her. So it gave me the chance to start a brand new life," she said.

And with that, she did.

"Sheryl Sandberg, my boss, gave a commencement address to UC Berkeley and it was, 'Live life like you have 11 days,' and I knew in that moment that I wanted to move back to the East Coast and help victims of domestic violence," Herdlinger said.